Healthcare Reform Summit Yields Little Consensus

Cummings does not suffer any illusions that Republicans will get on board with a comprehensive plan.

“We’re at a point where we have no choice but to proceed without the Republicans, period. If the day brought out anything, it’s that the Republicans want to obstruct what the president is trying to do.”

But the best way to move forward is still a big question. House Majority Whip James Clyburn hinted Thursday night that there are enough votes in the House to pass the Senate version of the bill, which Obama has said he wants to see happen.

Throughout the summit, however, Republicans warned of the perils of using the controversial reconciliation procedure, which would allow the Senate to pass a bill with a simple majority of 51. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid told Republicans to “stop crying” about it, noting that they’d used the procedure 21 times, more than any Democratic majority has.